Box-making machine.



A No. 732,668. l PATBNTBD JUNE 30,1903.

` F.M. WADE.

BOX MAKING MACHINE.

Arrmouron rILnn un. so, 190s.

No. 732,668. PATENTBD JUNE 30, 1903.

' F. M. WADE.

B0X MAKING MAGHINB.

APPLICATION FILED APB.. 30. 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

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No. 732,668. v PATENTBD JUNE ao, 190s.

= P. M. WADE.

BOXMAKING MAGHINE.

PPLI'UATION FILED Ara. so, nos.

37 -zrl 36 l me Nunms PETERS co. Pnommno.. wAsNlNaTaN, n. c.

F. M. WADE.

BOX MAKING MAGHINE. I

ArrLroulon FILED nn. ao, moa.

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' PATBNTBDfJUNE3o,19o3.

- No. vaee.

UNITED STATES,

Patented June eo, 190s;

PATENT OEEICE.

FRANK M. WADE, OE MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, AssICNOROE ONE-FOURTH To CORNELIUS WHEELER, OE NATIONAL HOME, WISCONSIN.

BOX-MAKlNc MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application filed April 30, 1903.

To all whom it 11m/,y concern,.- y

Be it' known that I, FRANK M. WADE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Box-Making Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention has especial reference to ma-V chines for making boxes from wood-'veneer strips; andit consists in certain peculiarities of construction and combination of parts, as will be fully set forth hereinafter in connection with the accompanying drawings an subsequently claimed. In the said drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a machine embodying the present invention, taken on the plane indicated by the line 1 1 in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a similar view taken on the plane indicated by the line 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is aview of the Operative parts of said machine, partly-in plan, with thev rear portion partly in section, on the plane indicated by the line 3 3 in Figs. 2 and 4 and with the springs secured to the bed-plate, also in section, to better illustrate certain details of construction. Fig. 4 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the plane indicated bythe line 44in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on the plane indicated bythe line 5 5 in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail view, partly in section, on the plane indicated by the line 6 6 in Fig. 1, but showing the box-forming strips in position and with `the spring-Iongue-holding device down in operative position. Fig. 7 is a detail plan View showing the said box-forming strips and spring-tongue in the same position as in Fig. 6. Figs. 8 and 9 are partly sectional detail views illustrating the opera tion of the machine. Fig. 10is a partly-sectional view of the completed box. Figs. 11 and 12 are perspective views of the two strips from which. the box is formed, shown bent and folded'in positionto be applied to the machine. Fig. 13 is a detail front elevation of a part of said machine looking in the direction and at the parts indicated by the arrows andlino 1313 of Fig. 3. Fig. 14is ade- Patent N0. 732,668, dated June 30, 1903.

Serial No. 154,971. (No model.)

tail perspective view of the rear vend of one I of the folding-flap axial rods.

My said machine is particularly designed for the manufacture of boxes, such as are 'illustrated in my application for Let-ters Pat- 55 ent filed August 6, 1902, under Serial No. 118,586, although vnot necessarily confined thereto, and while of especial value in making boxes, such as fruit and berry boxes, from strips of wood Veneer can be usedwith any 6o suitable thin material which has first been scored or indented, so as to fold upon predeterminedlines.

Referring by numerals to the said drawings, 1 1 represent the legs of the supporting- 65 frame suitably braced, as shown at2 2, and resting on each sideon the tops of the vlegs1 and upper braces 2 are supporting-boards 3 3 for the base-plate 4, formed with transverse recesses 5 5 and 6, as shown. The central recess-6 extends all the way back through the upper surface of said plate 4; but the recesses 5 5 extend only part way back, to the line of the longitudinally-arranged vertical guide-strips 7 7. The center of the plate 4 is formed with transverse vertical projections 8 8 just inside the lines of the recesses 5 5, having inwardly-extending extensions 9 9 at eachend, which are of less height than the projections 8 and extend toward each other tothe edges of the central recess 6, thus forming a casing, withinwhich are located. the` springs 10 10, hereinafter more particularly described. The plate 4 is perforated with longitudinal slots 11 11, which extend through from the center of the recesses 5 5 to receive the lugs 12 12 on the bottom of the flaps 13 13, which are adapted when down to rest in said recesses 5 5, vthe said flaps extending from rods 14 14, journaled in transverse grooves 16 16 in the upper surface of the plate 4 just outside the lines of thev transverse projections 8 8. The rear of this plate is centrally cut out, and the rods 14'14 extend backward beyond the longitudinal edge ofthe cut-out portion and terminate in inturned ends 15 15, formed with lips to conystitute a groove between them, as best shown in Fig. 14. The front end of one of these rods 14, resting in its groove 16, is shown in loo Fig. 13, which also shows the front upright plate 17 of a transverse slide 18, said plate 17 having end extensions 75 75, extending over the said front ends of the rods 14 14 and held by guide-lips 76 76, secured by screws 77 77 to the base-plate 4, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 13. The transverse slide 18 has movement in the described central recess 6 of the plate 4, said slide 18 having a slot 19 therethrough in line with a transverse slot 2O through the plate 4 at the center of the said recess 6. The rear end of the said slide 18 is cut out on each side, as shown at 21 21, forward of which said slide carries a vertical pin 22, and the upper edge of the front. upright plate 17 is beveled orinclined upwardly from the left end to the right end, as best shown in Fig. 13.

Located on the rear part of the slide 18 is another slide 23, having a transverse beveled front upright plate 24 with lug 25, and the slide 23 has a slot 26 therethrough,through which the pin 22 of the slide 18 projects, said pin being connected by spring 27 with the said lug 25, while the rear end of the slide 23 is red uced in width, as shown at 28, and there being ears 29 29 on the plate 4 to serve as guides for the limited movementof the said upper slide 30 30 represent angle-shaped guides formed with slots 31 31 through their horizontal flanges, through which pass the shanks of the set-screws 32 32 into the base-plate 4, on which the said guides have movement toward or from the center, being secured the desired distancetherefrom by said set-screws 32 when adjusted to form the required size of box, as hereinafter described. The hereinbefore-named springs 10 10 are of the shape best shown in Fig. 1, each spring having an upright side with inwardly-curved top and a horizontal bottom portion terminating in a downwardly-extending vertical flange, all in one piece, the side portions of the springs bearing against the plate projections 8 8, the bottom portions resting on said plate 4 at the center thereof, and the downward flanges projecting through the slot 19 in the slide 18 and the corresponding slot 20in the said plate,and the springs being held firmly in place with4 their downward flanges clamped closely together, as by set-screws 33, passing through threaded bores in lugs 34 34 on the under side of said plate 4.

35 35 represent two uprights, preferably of cast metal, secured to and rising from the base-plate 4 at each side of the described rear cut-out portion. The opposed inner faces of these uprights are formed with two pairs of opposed grooves 36 36 and 37 37, and the lastnamed pair of grooves form guideways for the side flanges 38 38 of a vertical sliding bar 40, said ilanges being beveled, as shown at 39 39, at their lower ends and said bar having a central longitudinal slot 41, through which project the rear end of the slide 18 and the superimposed rear end 28 of the slide 23.

Two pairs of vertical outwardly-bent leafsprings are secured at their upper ends to the bar 40, one spring on each side of said slot, the front springs being marked 42 42 and the rear springs being designated 43 43. The lower end of the sliding bar 40 terminates in a foot-tread 44, and as all of said bar below the base-plate 4 is loose it is guided in its movement by the beam 45, so that it cannot A,

be pushed backward out of line, and above its lower end said bar 40 has a pair of ears 46 46, from which stout spiral springs 48 48 extend to lugs 47 47 on the under side of the baseplate 4.

49 designates a stationary bracket projecting forward from the upper part of the sliding bar 40, and 50 indicates a movable head having vertical movement below said bracket. This head has downward-extending flanges all around and at the rear guide-flanges 51 51, which (togetherwith their vertical downward continuations 52 52) move in the opposed pair of grooves 36 36 in the described uprights 35 35 in front of the bar 40 and is further formed with a rear lug 53, which projects within an upper slot 54, separated by a cross-piece 55 from the main slot 41, said lug normally 'resting on said cross-piece 55. The outer side flanges 56 56 of the head are curved outwardly at their lower edges, and the inner side flanges 57 57, which extend in parallel lines to the outer flanges, but to only about half their depth, are curved inwardly on their lower edges. The top of the head 50 is a flat shelf, with a slot 58 therethrough to admit the thin ilat shank 59 of the plunger 60, this shank being expanded into a block 61, resting on the shelf-top of thehead 50, and in practice the said fiat shank (in form like a vertical plate) is slipped through the slot 58, and then the plunger is riveted or otherwise secured to the lower end of the said shank. The bracket 49 has a hole 62 therethrough, and a guide-pin 63 is slipped through said hole and screwed or otherwise fastened to the block 61, so that the flat shank 59 has movement through the slot 58 of the head 50 and the guide -pin 63 movement through the hole 62 of the bracket 49 when necessary.

The uprights 35 35 are connected together at the top as follows: A plate 64 is placedr against the vertical rear flanges 65 of the bar 40 between the opposed inner sides of said uprights and a bolt 66 slipped through openings in said uprights and within a horizontal groove in the rear face of said plate and a nut 67 screwed on the projecting end of said bolt, thus holding the uprights 35 35 rmly together at the top, and yet permitting the bar 40 to be freely moved in front of the plate 64, which latter has a lug 68 on its front face (back of the line of the end of the rear lug 53 of the head 50) which may bear against the upper rear face of the bar 40, midway between the rear flanges 65 of the latter when the bar is in motion, the upper ends of IOO IIO

said fianges being extended backward and shouldered, as shown atr69, the upper, edge of this plate 64 thus serving as a stop to limit the downward movement of the bar when the shouldered iiange extensions 69 come in contact with said plate, this limit of movement being made adjustable, as the plate 64 canbe reversed, and fastened, as before, by the bolt 66, as then the downward movement of the bar 40 will be increased, the described horizontal groove in the rear face of thc plate being placed at some distance-from the center, this adjustment being for the purpose of adapting the machine to the manufacture of boxes of different heights.

As heretofore stated, the boxes to be made are of the general class named in my priorV application for patent, and my-machine as v sliding bar 40 brings thebeveled lower edges organized is especially intended for the manufacture of such boxes from two strips of veneer or like material bent and folded as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. The strip70, Fig. 12, is irst placed in position, as shown in Fig. 8, on the base-plate 4 over the springs 10 10,with the extreme upturned ends of the strip against the vertical flanges of the an gie-shaped guides 30 30 and with the central vertical side portions of said strip against the outer sides of the plate projections8 8 and the central horizontal portion of the said strip over and resting on the curved inner ends of the springs 10 10, all as shown in said Fig. 8. Next the strip 7l, bent and folded as shown in Fig. 11, is slipped over the central portion of the strip 70, with the front part of said strip 7l between the front upright plate 17 of the transverse slide 1S and the adjacent extensions 9 9 of the .plate pro? jections 8 8 and with the rear part of said strip 71 between the upright plate 24 of the slide 23 andthe rear extensions 9 9 of the plate projections 8 8, adjacent to said plate 24,while the side or end portions of said strip 71 are against the central sideportions of the strip 70, but rising to a higher plane, and if the strip 71 is not interlocked the loose ends may be held tightly togetherl by the spring-tongue 72, secured to the curved arm 73, attached by a pivot 74 tothe adjacent upright 35, as best shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The strips for forming the box being in the positions shown in full lines in Fig. 8, downward pressure is applied to the foot-tread 44 of the vertical sliding bar 40,which first results by reason of the pressure of the outwardly-bent vertical rear springs v43 43 against the recessed end of slide 18 and the like action of the similar front springs 42 42 against the recessed end of the slide 23 as said springs are drawn down with the bar 40 in drawing the upright plates 17 and 24 of said transverse slides 18 and 23 toward each other, thus gripping the front andv rear parts of the folded box-s trip 71 tightly between said plates 17 and 24 and the adjacent plategprojection extensions 9 9. Continued downward movementof the said 39 39 of the side anges 38 38 of the bar 40 down on therear ends 15 15 of the foldingflap rods 14 14 and axially turning said rods, which-brings their flaps 13 13 from horizon-v tal to vertical position, carrying with them the lower horizontal parts of the strip 7 Q up into the vertical position shownin dottedA lines in Fig. 8 tightly against the sides or ends of the folded strip 7l, .with the extreme ends of said strip 70 above and over the top y e edges of the strip 7l, as also shown in dotted lines in said Fig. 8( Continued downward movement of said bar 40 brings the plunger down against the upper central horizontal part of the strip 70, carrying same and the inturned curved ends of the springs 10 10 down into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9, and also bringing down the head 50, so that its side flanges 57 oneach lower.

side edge thereof shall receive between them the described extreme bent ends of the strip and fold same over and around the upperl edges ofthe side or end parts of the strip 71, asshown in full lines in said Fig. 9. This completes the downwardfmovement of the sliding barV 40, and foot-pressure being re-V leased from thetread 44 the said bar 40` is carried upward by the retraction of the stout spiral springs 48 48, which first releases theV plunger from its position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9 'and allows it to be carriedup rying up the upper central horizontal part of the strip 70 until both are in the position by the action of the springs 10 10, also car- IOC with the rearV lug 53 of the head 50, carrying g the same upward to its normal original position, the side ianges 38 38 of the bar 40 being thereby carried above and released from` contact with the ends 15 15 of the foldingflap axial rods 14 14, and the flaps 13 13 on said rods will drop by gravity back into their former horizontal position, andthe said upward movement of said bar 40 also carries the outwardly-bent portions of the vertical spring 42 42 and 43 43 above the recessed ends of the slides 18 and 23, whereupon the spring 27, connecting the projecting parts 22v and 25 on said slides, will draw said parts together, thereby forcing the front upright plate 17 forward and the rear plate 24 back, thereby releasing the grip of said plates on the box, and the spring-tongue'72, if Aem.-q

ployed, is thrown back away from vthe box, which can now be lifted off the springs 10 10,

leaving themachineready for another oper-v, f

ation.

v l L 13 As already stated, the machine is adapted for the manufacture of boxesof'dilferent heights and sizes-for exampleasshownit is Asupposed Yto be for the, manufacture ofthe quart size of box. To fit it for making the pint size, merely less height of the box is required, and for this size the strip will be of less length and would be scored, indented, or otherwise treated for folding at diderent distances apart from those required for the quart box, and the strip 7l would be of less width. For the pint size the springs 10 l0 would be removed by loosening the set-screws 33 33 and springs of less height substituted, and the set-screws 32 32 would be also loosened and the angle-plates 30 30 moved nearer the center of the b ase-plate 4 until the extreme bent ends of the strip '70 come in contact, as before, with the vertical iianges of said angleplates, and the bolt 66 would be removed and the back plate 64: removed and reversed before being again tightened to place, so as to allow the slidingr bar 40 to descend an increased distance before its ilange-shoulders 69 met the upper edge of said plate 64, as already explained, because the lower the box the smaller its capacity; but no other alteration would be required in such change from quart sizes to pint sizes. If it was desired to make boxes of different shapes or with ilaring instead of vertical sides, it would be necessary to substitute an appropriate base-plate with properly-shaped projections and attachments thereon, but without other change or any variation from the principle of operation of the machine, changes such as are above indicated being matters of skill within the province of the mechanic and not atfecting the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a box-making machine, the combination with a suitable standard, of a base-plate su pported thereon; uprights rising above said base-plate, and formed with vertical guideways; a spring-retracted slotted sliding bar movable in said guideways and extending below said base-plate; a head formed with folding flanges, and having movement in said uprights independent of the movement of said sliding bar, and provided with a lug in engagement with the slot in said sliding bar for movement therewith at predetermined times; a plunger' carried by said head, and having vertical movement independent thereof; box-supporting springs 011 said base-plate beneath and in line with said plunger; projections on said base-plate for supporting the parts of which the box is formed; and means actuated by said sliding bar for gripping said box parts and for moving them into position to be operated upon.

2. In a box-making machine, the combination with a suitable standard, of a base-plate supported thereon; uprights rising above said base-plate, and formed with series of vertical guideways in their opposed inner faces; a spring-retracted sliding bar formed with side iianges having vertical movement in the rear guideways of the uprights,'said sliding bar being formed with central vertical slots, separated by a cross-piece; a longitudinally-slotted head formed with folding flanges at each side of its under face, and having vertical movement in the front guide- Ways of the uprights, and a rear lug projecting into the upper slot of the sliding bar; a pair of slides, located one above the other, and having movement transversely across the base-plate, the rear ends of said slides being :recessed and projecting Within the lower slot of the sliding bar; projections rising from the center' of said base-plate for supporting the parts of which the box is formed; plates secured to the forward ends of said transverse slides in lines parallel with the rear and front projections on said baseplate; a retracting-spring connecting the two slides; vertical outwardly-bent springs secured to said sliding bar on each side of the lower slot therein, in engagement with the recessed ends of said transverse slides; folding fiaps arranged in lines parallel with the side projections on 'the base-plate, and mounted on axial rods having rear ends projecting in the path of the side flanges of the sliding bar; a plunger carried by said head, and having a shank extending through the slot therein, for movement independent of said head; and box-supporting springs on said base-plate beneath and in line with said plunger.

3. In a box-making machine, the combination with a suitable standard, of a base-plate supported thereon; uprights rising above said base-plate, and formed with vertical guideways; a spring-retracted sliding bar movable in said guideways, and extending below said base-plate, and formed with rear vertical anges,having shouldered extensions at their upperends; a head formed with folding flanges, and having movement in said uprights both independent of, and in connection with, said sliding bar, at predetermined times; a reversible plate, adjustably connected to the upper ends of said uprights, in the path of the said shouldered extensions; a plunger carried by said head, and having vertical movement independently thereof; box-supporting springs removably supported on said base-plate beneath and in line with said plunger; projections on said base-plate surrounding said springs for supporting the parts of which the box is formed; slotted angle-plates adjustably secured to said baseplate on each side of the center thereof; and means actuated by said sliding bar for gripping said box parts and for moving them into position to be operated upon.

4. In a box-making machine, the combination with asuitable standard, of a base-plate supported thereon, and carrying means for supporting the parts of which the box is to be vformed and for gripping same and for moving them into position to be operated upon; uprights rising above said base-plate, and formed with two pairs of opposed vertical guideways a spring-retracted sliding bar l'OO having movement in one pair of said gnidehave hereunto set my hand,`at Milwaukee, v ways; au edge-folding head having movein the county of Milwaukee and State of Wis- Io ment in the other pairl of said guideways; an consin, in the presence of two witnesses. independently-movable plunger carried by l Y 5 said head; .and box-supporting springs on FRANK M WADE' said base-plate beneath and in line with said Witnesses.: plunger. H. G. UNDERWOOD,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I E. W. HELLER. 

